Guide rail covers

ABSTRACT

Covers for the guide railings in ballparks, stadiums, arenas and other public gathering places are formed from a durable sheet material having a length approximately the same as that of a section of guide railing and a width somewhat less than twice the height of the railing. The cover is draped over the railing for covering both sides of the railing and for providing substantially increased space in ballparks, stadiums and arenas for the display of decorative, informational and/or advertising materials.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to covers for the guide railings found inball parks, stadiums, arenas and other places of public gathering.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stadiums, arenas, ballparks and other public gathering placesconventionally provide hand railings along walkways, ramps and stairs toassists patrons in going up and down stairs, to guide patrons in movingfrom place to place and for purposes of crowd control. State, County andCity safety codes require the railings and set specifications for theirconstruction and location. Usually, the codes call for verticalstanchions, a handrail extending between the stanchions, and a railintermediate the top rail and the walking surface to prohibit, or atleast discourage, people from going under the handrail from one side tothe other.

The rails are conventionally made of pipe and are frequently unsightlyand obtrusive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide functional anddecorative covers for guide railings.

Another object of the invention is to provide guide rail covers bearingand/or accommodating informational messages, decorative materials,advertisements, and the like. The covers can, in particular,significantly increase the advertising space available in a ball park,stadium or arena to the benefit of advertisers, stadium and arenaoperators, and ultimately the patrons or fans in terms of reducedadmission prices, or at least minimization of price increases.

In accordance with the invention, a railing cover is comprised of adurable sheet material, such as plastic or canvas, of a lengthsubstantially equal to or less than that of a section of railing and ofa width somewhat less then twice the height of the railing, and meansfor securing the sheet to the railing. The sheet is draped,substantially along its center line, over the top or handrail of therailing to cover both sides of the railing, but without dragging on theadjacent walking surface. Securing means, such as loop and hookfasteners, are attached to the sheet at both ends to facilitate securingof the sheet to the vertical stanchions of the railing. Securing meansmay also extend between the lower edges of the draped sheet below theintermediate rail of the railing to mitigate against purposeful,inadvertent or accidental removal of the cover from the railing.

At each side of the railing, the sheet may bear decorative materials,such as decorative patterns, team colors, names, nicknames and logos,etc., and/or the sheet may bear advertisements and/or informationalmaterial, such as directions, e.g., the word “exit” and an associatedarrow. Also, the sheet may be provided at one or both sides of therailing with one or more transparent pockets for reception ofreplaceable materials, such as one advertisement one week and adifferent advertisement the following week.

The cover also provides patrons a more comfortable and safe hand gripsurface than a metal pipe.

The railing covers of the invention may thus enhance the décor of thestadium or arena, make attendance at events more enjoyable, and satisfythe wants and desires of stadium operators and advertisers.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those of reasonable skill in the art from the followingdetailed description, as considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a typical guide railing for a stairway ora ramp;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the guide railing of FIG. 1 equipped witha cover pursuant to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cover made in accordance with the invention;and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the cover of FIG. 3 draped over a guiderailing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of certain embodiments of theinvention presently contemplated by the inventor to be the best mode ofcarrying out his invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical guide railing section 10 for a stairwayor inclined ramp is comprised of at least two vertical stanchion 12, atop handrail 14 extending between and secured to the upper ends of thestanchions and a rail 16 extending between and secured to the twostanchions intermediate the ends of the stanchions. For a stairway orramp, the rails are parallel to one another and the incline of thestairway or ramp. For a horizontal walkway, the rails 14 and 16 arehorizontal and parallel to one another and the walkway.

In accordance with the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a cover 20is draped over the handrail 14 preferably to cover both sides of therailing 10 from the handrail 14 to a location at or below theintermediate rail 16 or even to the lower ends of the stanchions 12, butwithout dragging on the walkway, ramp or stair. The cover is secured tothe stanchions by straps 22 extending around the stanchions.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover 20 comprises a sheet 24 of durablematerial, such as plastic, canvas or the like, and for outdoor stadiums,it is preferably weatherable, i.e., rain, snow and fade resistant.

The sheet 24 is of a length corresponding approximately to the length ofa railing section 10 and of a width no greater than twice the height ofthe railings section. In the preferred embodiment, the width of thesheet is somewhat less than twice the height of the railing and has acenter, indicated by dotted line 26, so that the sheet has two sides 28a and 28 b of equal width for covering respective sides of the railing10.

The sides 28 a and 28 b may be directly imprinted with decorative,informational or advertising materials. Alternatively, one or moretransparent pockets 30 of the same or varying sizes may be secured toone or both sides of the cover for reception of replaceable materials,such as replaceable advertisements for a variety of different productsand/or services. The pockets may be arranged parallel to the side edgesof the cover, which upon installation on a railing become the bottomedges of the cover, as shown in FIG. 3, or for an inclined railing maybe skewed so that, upon installation of the cover on an inclinedrailing, the pockets appear horizontal as shown in FIG. 2.

The sides 28 a and 28 b are provided at each of their ends withcooperative securing means, such as straps 22 and suitable strapfastening means, preferably cooperative hook and loop fasteners providedon respective surfaces of the straps and the opposite side member 28 aor 28 b.

Similar straps 32 and fasteners may be provided between the side orbottom edges of the sheet for extension under the intermediate rail 16for deterring purposeful, inadvertent or accidental removal of the coverfrom the railing.

The invention thus provides additional space in an arena or stadium fordisplay of decorative, informational and advertising materials. It alsoaffords patrons a more comfortable and safe hand grip surface than thecustomary metal pipe. If desired, a specifically designed hand gripsurface 34 could be provided over an area along the center of the cover.

The objects and advantages of the invention have therefore been shown tobe attained in a convenient, practical, economical and facile manner.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been hereinillustrated and described, it is to be appreciated that various changes,rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A cover for a railing comprising a sheet for draping over the railingand providing space thereon for decorative, informational and/oradvertising materials.
 2. A cover as set forth in claim 1 includingmeans for securing the sheet to the railing.
 3. A cover as set forth inclaim 1 including one or more transparent pockets on said sheet forreplaceably receiving decorative, informational and/or advertisingmaterials.
 4. A cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheet is of alength equal to or less than that of the railing and of a width equal toor less then twice the height of the railing for draping over both sidesof the railing.
 5. A cover as set forth in claim 1 including a grippingsurface on the cover for overlying the railing.
 6. A cover for a handrailing having vertical stanchions and a handrail extending between thestanchions comprising a sheet for draping over the handrail between thestanchions and providing space thereon for decorative, informationaland/or advertising materials.
 7. A cover as set forth in claim 6including means for securing the sheet to the stanchions.
 8. A cover asset forth in claim 7 wherein said securing means comprises one or morestraps extending around the stanchions.
 9. A cover as set forth in claim6 including a gripping surface overlying the handrail.
 10. A cover asset forth in claim 6 including one or more transparent pockets on saidsheet for replaceably receiving decorative, informational and/oradvertising materials.
 11. A cover as set forth in claim 6 wherein saidsheet is of a length approximately the same as that of the railing andof a width somewhat less than twice the height of the railing fordraping over and covering both sides of the railing.
 12. A cover as setforth in claim 11 including means at the ends of said sheet for securingsaid sheet to the stanchions.
 13. A cover as set forth in claim 11including means at the bottom edges of said sheet for securing saidsheet to the railing.
 14. A cover for hand railings in ballparks,arenas, stadiums and the like, the hand railings having verticalstanchions, a handrail extending between upper portions of thestanchions and an intermediate rail extending between intermediateportions of the stanchions, comprising a cover for draping over thehandrail and extending down at least to the level of the intermediaterail on both sides of the railing and providing space thereon fordecorative, informational and/or advertising materials.
 15. A cover asset forth in claim 14 including one or more transparent pockets on saidsheet for replaceably receiving decorative, informational and/oradvertising materials.
 16. A cover as set forth in claim 14 includingmeans at the ends of said sheet for securing said sheet to thestanchions.
 17. A cover as set forth in claim 14 including means at thebottom edges of said sheet for securing said sheet to the intermediaterail.
 18. A cover as set forth in claim 14 including first strap meansat the ends of said sheet for securing said sheet to the stanchions andsecond strap means at the bottom edges of said sheet for securing saidsheet to the intermediate rail.
 19. A cover as set forth in claim 14including a hand grip surface on the portion of the cover overlying thehandrail.